Letter: Promoting responsibility with wind energy

In response to Jack Darin's Wind Energy Article (My View: Wind energy a boon for Boone County): I think most people agree that alternative energy is important, but development must be done responsibly.

Unfortunately, it seems some are willing to disregard responsibility to ensure that this project moves forward, regardless of the proven safety risks and negative impacts of improper setbacks.

Is the proposed text amendment unreasonable in its purpose (to offer protection), or is this about a lack of siting potentials? Please look at Vermilion County, IL (California Ridge Project), where turbine failures have recently occurred and testimony from impacted residents comes out weekly. Even the local Superintendent acknowledges the impacts on his students! (California Ridge is roughly half as populated as the project area in Boone County).

Embracing responsibility ensures a safer future for our families, property value and tax base protection, a community where residents want to investment in their homes, which in turn employs locals (carpenters, architects, engineers, etc…) and a benchmark for other communities.

Responsibility cannot be argued, but it can be ignored. This isn't about "blocking" wind, it's about implementing setbacks that prevent the proven negative impacts associated with large-scale industrial wind in our community. Please help promote responsibility!